AN INSURANCE company yesterday threw a potential lifeline to some of the 870 workers who are to lose their jobs at the LG Philips Display factory near Newport.

Cardiff-based Admiral, which insures 750,000 motorists in the UK, said it needed extra staff and was willing to consider recruiting from the LG workforce.

But the total number of jobs available - between 20 and 30 - is a drop in the ocean compared with the scale of the LG redundancies.

News of the job losses on Thursday sparked questions about the large government grants arranged in 1996 for South Korean company LG to create two electronics factories west of Newport.

The LGPD plant, which makes computer monitors and televisions, is to close in August.

Having read of the plight of LG workers and their families in The Western Mail yesterday, Henry Engelhardt, chief executive of Admiral, decided to consider recruiting from among them.

"We're looking to recruit people for our call centre," said a spokeswoman.

"Henry was wondering if the LG workers would be interested in coming to see us, or if we could arrange an open day for them. Obviously we're not going to be abe to take 870 people but we're looking for maybe 20 or 30 people."

Work in claims, customer service or sales departments would be a big change after LG but Admiral is willing to train new staff.

"We look for a very positive attitude and good communication skills and then we train people in the other aspects," added the spokeswoman.

Successful applicants would be based at Admiral's head office in Greyfriars Road, in central Cardiff, where 900 of the company's 1,500 staff are based. A further 400 work in Swansea.

Bon Westcott, rapid response manager for Jobcentre Plus in Wales, was unable to say whether any other employers had already come forward with vacancies for LG workers.

"In any significant redundancy situation we invariably have contact from employers offering jobs," she said.

Any LG workers who would like to be considered should contact Admiral on 0845 606 6068.